Lee co. deputy demoted after bus incident raises concern

A Lee county deputy had been demoted following an incident on a school bus. (Source: WALB)

Sheriff Reggie Rachals

LEE CO., GA (WALB) -

The Lee county deputy who was caught on camera, cursing at a 12-year-old student, has been demoted.

A student recorded the video on a school bus Tuesday afternoon, after the bus driver said the students were being disruptive.

Lee county Sheriff Reggie Rachals said he reviewed the bus's surveillance video and decided to take disciplinary action against Sergeant Marcus Harris.

Harris has been demoted, suspended for three days without pay, and has to attend a class in Forsyth on professionalism and ethics.

"This is a very good officer that we're talking about, and it saddens me that I have to do what I have to do," said Sheriff Rachals. "I'm pretty sure that it won't happen in Lee county again, because this type of stuff will be brought up in other classes that we put on within the Sheriff's Office ourselves."

Sheriff Rachals said the school system is now taking steps to discipline the kids involved in the misbehavior on the bus.